metro news

Djokovic ousts Del Potro to seal Thiem semi in Rome

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning his match against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during the ATP Tennis Open tournament on May 20, 2017 at the Foro Italico in Rome. TIZIANA FABI / AFP

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, the second seed, cruised into the semi-finals of the Rome Masters Saturday after a rain-interrupted 6-1, 6-4 win over Juan del Potro.

Djokovic, the second seed and the only former Masters winner remaining in the draw, will now face Dominic Thiem later Saturday after the Austrian starlet sent seven-time champion Rafael Nadal of Spain crashing out in the quarters.

Heavy downpours and storms in the Italian capital which began on Friday night mean organisers are playing catch-up in a bid to bring the event to a close by Sunday.

Djokovic had taken a one-set lead over unseeded Argentinian Del Potro, who held a 2-1 lead in the second set before heavy rain halted play.

The first men’s semi-final is between 20-year-old German Alexander Zverev and big-serving American John Isner.